Friction-gear for electric motors



(No Model.) 2 SheetS- Sheet 1. G. J. VAN D'EPOELE.

FRICTION GEAR FORELEGTRIG MOTORS.

Patented Mar. Z6, 188-9.

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Charles JfYan Depoel N. PETERi Pmlwlimu n lwr, Washinglon. D4 0.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-She'et 2.

Y '0. J'. VAN DEPOELE.

FRICTION GEAR FOR BLEGTRIG MOTORS. N0.4'00,2.74. Patented Mar. 26, 1889.

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76 b4 4 I Charles Jj anflejoole '2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

FRICTION-GEAR FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,274, dated March26, 1889.

Application filed July 14, 1887. Renewed November 24, 1888. Serial No.291,802. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lynn,in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Gears forElectric Motors, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to improved mechanism for transmitting the powerdeveloped in the armatureshaft of an electric motor to the work to beperformedin the present in stance to the driving-axle of a car uponwhich the motor is mounted, the motor and connections constituting themotive power of an electric railway.

The details of construction, arrangement, and operation will be fullyhereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure l is a plan view of the running-gear of an ordinarystreet-railway car. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the motor and itsconnections with the driving-wheels of the car. Fig. 3 is an end view ofthe device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail illustrating the ad justable bearin g by which thefrictional connection is adjusted. Fig.5'is a detail view showing the driving-pinion and the pulleys inengagement therewith.

Similar letters denote like parts throughout.

A is the bottom frame of a car, of which co and B are the front and rearplatforms, respectively.

b b are a pair of sills added to the framework of the car, either above,below, or on a line with the ordinary frame for the purpose ofsupporting the motor C, which is fixedly mounted thereon upon suitablesupports or feet, D, which may be provided with lateral flanges forcarrying the bearings, within which is journaled the counter-shaftE,which is by suitable mechanism rendered vertically adjustable in itsbearings. As shown, how ever, the feet D of the motor 0 stand directlyupon the cross-piece d, which is let into the sills b b, and upon theextremities of this cross-piece are located bearing-boxes G, withinwhich are fitted the vertically-movable journal-bearings g, saidjournal-bearings carrying the counter-shaft E and being secured to orformed integral with the pivoted levers H, which move vertically insuitable transverse slots in the bearing-boxes G, and the position ofwhich is controlled bymeans of adjusting-screws h, passing through theirouter extremities, and by means of which the journals and countershaftcan be raised or lowered, as desired.

The armature-shaft I is provided with a friction-pinion, 7;, formed witha beaded surface, the beads of which register with the grooves in thefriction -pulley F, mounted upon the counter-shaft in line with saidpin- To the central projecting portiomJ, of the field-magnet core issecured a strong metallic bracket-bearing, j, within which is journaleda second pulley, K, of less diameter but of the same width as the pulleyF, both the pulleys K and F fitting in frictional contact with theopposite sides of the pinion t on the armatureshaft, so as to make agood working-contact therewith. The pulleys K and F are united by meansof flexible yielding belts L, the object of the belts being to produce astrong and constant pressure of the pulleys K and F upon thearmature-pinion, so that there shall be good workingfrictional contactbetween them for driving the counter-shaft carrying the pulley F. Thebelts L may be made in a .variety of ways, so long as their elasticchar-.

actor is preserved, and there are no joints or rough places to interferewith their working smoothly. Ordinarily, one or two layers of wire woundin "the form of continuous spiral springs will afford sufficientstiffness and strength, and yet be sufflciently flexible to allow ofslight adjustment among the parts; but, however, should this not besuflicient the belts themselves may be provided with a flexible orsemi-flexible core-such as rubberor one layer of wire may be wound overanother, making a solid yet, elastic belt, until any desired degree ofstrength is secured. The counter-shaft E also carries one or moredrivwhether a single or double driving connection is desired. Thepulleys e are formed and grooved substantially as are the pulleys I? andK.

Upon the axle M of the front wheels of the car are rigidly secu redpulleys O, of about the same size, and formed with grooved faces,similar to that of the pulley F, and the pulleys c O are connected byflexible belts L in the same manner as are the wheels F and K.

While I have described the best form of mechanical. connections known tome, and one that while preserving great strength will operate withoutthe disagreeable noise, jar, and inconvenience incident to many othermodes of connecting, I propose to modify the arrangement just describedby connecting the pulley c and the pulley to be driven by strong flat orcorded belting instead of the springbelting here shown, and when thatconstruction. is used I insert a spring-supported belttightener Q,which,while maintaining drivingconnection under all conditions, willyield to admit of sufficient longitudinal movement to prevent injury ofthe parts in a manner similar to that of the spring-belts illustrated.

The belt-tightener may assume a variety of forms, a convenientembodiment thereof be ing shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It consistsof a pulley, q, rotatably mounted at the extremity of alever,q,pivotally mounted between supports extending from below the platformof the car or from any other convenient point, the pulley q bearingagainst the outside of the driving-belts, and preferably grooved toreceive said belts and prevent them from spreading or getting out ofplace. An adjustable spring, R, is also fixed to the frame of the car,and is arranged to bear downward against thefree end of the lever q, theaction of the spring being to force the pulley 1 against thedriving-belts with greater or less force, as may be desired.

The grooved driving Wheels and pulleys are preferably of paper; but theymay be made of wood or metal, or metal with paper rim, and when made ofmetal they may be faced with a noi'i-metallic substance, if founddesirable, in order to deaden the noise and to give a better purchase tothe driving-belts, and at the same time to avoid wear thereupon as muchas possible. I find, however, that good results are obtainable with allmetal wheels grooved as shown.

It will be understood that the frictional contact between thearmature-pinion and the pulleys F and K can be increased or diminishcd,in order to compensate for the changes produced by heat and cold, andkept constantly tight by means of the adjustingscrcws 71 in theextremities of the levers 11 There is, however, no necessity for otherad- ;justability of the connections after the proper tension has beenascertained and the relationship between the motor and the drivingaxledetermined. Should, however, any change become necessary in thatparticular,

the motor canbe reset until the proper working-fn'essure is attained,after which no furand when their relative distance apart is varied bythe action of the springs upon which the vehicle is supported.

In many instances it desirable to connect all the supporting-W11eels ofthe vehicle with the motive power, in order to secure the full tractiveeifect of the load, and while not limiting myself to the use of suchconnection in every instance the plan. view, Fig. 1, shows suchconnection in place. Upon the axle M is placed an additionalbelt-pulley, m, of similar size and form as the pulleys O on said shaft,a similar pulley, N, being mounted upon the rear axle, n, the pulleysbeing connected by belts U, similar in nature to those connecting themotor with the main. or front drivingaxle, M.

Various minor changes and modifications may be made without in any waydeparting from the scope of the invention, and it will be obvious thatthe opposite end of the armature-shaft may be also provided. with afriction-pinion gearing direct with the transmit ing devices, as alreadyfully described.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In a friction-gearing for electric motors, the combination of afriction-pinion on the armature-shaft, a friction-pulley pressed againstsaid pinion from one direction, a friction-pulley separately mounted andpressing thereagainst from another direction, elastic belts passing overboth the friction-pulleys and act ing to hold them against said pinion,a driving-pulley on the counter-shaft, a pulley on the axle to bedriven, and belts between the driving-pulley and the axle-pulley,whereby the motion of the arn'iati'u'e-shaii't is commu" nicatedthereto, substantially as described.

2. A gearing for electric motors, comprising a friction -pinion on thearmatureshaft, a counter-shaft mounted in movable bearings andadjustable to and from the ar1natureshaft, a friction-pulley on thecountei shaft engaging the pinion, a friction-pulley independentlymounted, and also in contact with the pinion, flexible belts connectingthe friction-pulleys and. acting to press them oppo sitely upon thepinion, a driving-pulley also on the said counter-shaft, and connectionsbetween the driving-pulley and the axle of the car, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a gear for electric motors, the combination, with the motor havinga friction-pinion on its armature-shaft, of a counter-shaft mounted inadjustable bearings, means for adjusting said bearings with respect tothe armatureshaft, consisting of a pivoted lever and adjusting-screw, afriction-pulley in conthe pulleys to be driven, substantially as set IOtact with the armature-shaft pinion, an addiforth.

tional friction-pulley, also in contact there- In testimony whereofIhereto affix my signa- With, spring-belting connecting the frictionturein presence of two Witnesses. Wheels and aotin to press them togetherupon v T the friction-pinio il, a driving pulley or pulleys CHARLES V ADEPOELE' also upon said counter-shaft, one or more pul- Witnesses:

le'ys on the axle to be driven, and spring-belt- \VILLIAM A. STILEs,

ing extending between the counter-pulley and JOHN R. HoLLIsTER.

